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Resolved complaints

Resolved complaints dealt with by the Press Complaints Commission during October, November and December 2000

The majority of complaints made to the Press Complaints Commission, which raise a possible breach of the Code of Practice, are resolved directly between the Commission’s staff, editors and complainants.

These are either settled to the express satisfaction of the complainant following some remedial action by the editor or are not pursued by complainants following an explanation or other response from the publication.

Listed below are summaries of those complaints, concerning regional newspapers, which fall into the former category.

Blackpool Evening Gazette
Clauses noted: 1
Mrs Pat Simpson of Blackpool complained that an article reporting her involvement in fund raising for an animal sanctuary was inaccurate.
Resolution: The newspaper published a follow-up piece. (Cl 1)

Bristol Evening Post
Clauses noted: 1 11
Mr Terry Flyng of Bristol complained that an article was misleading and that a photograph had been obtained via subterfuge and harassment.
Resolution: The newspaper published an apology and clarification. (Cl 1, 11)

Milton Keynes Citizen
Clauses noted: 6
Mr and Mrs M James of Milton Keynes complained that an article had identified their infant grandson as a party in an actual bodily harm conviction.
Resolution: The Editorial Director wrote to the complainants apologising for the identification and gave an assurance that such an error would not happen again. (Cl 6)

Goole Times
Clauses noted: 5
Mr Ian Cawsey MP complained on behalf of his constituent Mr Norman Woollass that a brief article about the death of his son some years ago intruded into his grief.
Resolution: The editor published an apology to the complainant. (Cl 5)

Luton on Sunday
Clauses noted: 1
Arriva the Shires complained that an article describing a reduction in bus services had been inaccurate.
Resolution: The newspaper printed a clarification. (Cl 1)

News & Star, Carlisle
Clauses noted: 3
Mrs W Carruthers of Workington complained that an article had invaded the privacy of her parents-in-law by publishing part of their address and publicising the fact that they were abroad for several weeks, thereby endangering their property.
Resolution: The newspaper carried an anonymous letter from the complainant. (Cl 3)

North West Evening Mail
Clauses noted: 1 5
Mr R Campbell complained that the headline of an article about his brother’s death was misleading and insensitive.
Resolution: The newspaper published an apology and a clarification. (Cl 1, 5)

Oxford Mail
Clauses noted: 4
James Hannon of Oxford complained that he had been harassed by a reporter.
Resolution: The matter was resolved privately. (Cl 4)

Sheffield Gazette
Clauses noted: 1
A man from Sheffield complained that an article inaccurately stated that he had injured himself whilst on a clay pigeon shoot.
Resolution: The newspaper published a correction and apology which stated that the man had been accidentally shot by another person. (Cl 1)

Stornoway Gazette & West Coast Advertiser
Clauses noted: 1
Mr R Tye of Loch Eynort complained that an article reported misleading statements made by his MSP which related to him.
Resolution: The newspaper published a further article which quoted the complainant’s response. (Cl 1)

The News, Portsmouth
Clauses noted: 1
Mr Arthur Birch of Portsmouth complained that information he had provided to the newspaper’s ‘Nostalgia’ column had been inaccurately published and that the same column in a subsequent edition had questioned his intelligence and memory.
Resolution: An apology was printed in the newspaper’s ‘Nostalgia’ column. Its author admitted that he had wrongly read the complainant’s original letter to him. (Cl 1)

The Star, Sheffield
Clauses noted: 1
A man from Sheffield complained that an article inaccurately stated that he had injured himself whilst on a clay pigeon shoot.
Resolution: The newspaper published a correction and apology which stated that the man had been accidentally shot by another person. (Cl 1)

Western Morning News
Clauses noted: 1
Mr A Miles of Camborne complained that an article about the Levant winding engine contained inaccuracies.
Resolution: The editor published a letter of clarification. (Cl 1)

Worcester Evening News
Clauses noted: 3
Mr Rob Key complained that the newspaper had invaded his privacy by publishing details of his salary.
Resolution: The newspaper published an apology for any concern or difficulty the piece may have caused. (Cl 3)

Yellow Advertiser, Romford
Clauses noted: 1
Father Tom Page of Upminster complained that an article reporting the decision to demolish a church hall was inaccurate. Resolution: The newspaper agreed to publish an apology. (Cl 1)

Yorkshire Evening Post
Clauses noted: 5 9
Mrs Dorothy Boothroyd of Leeds complained that a photograph which depicted her late husband in hospital, intruded into the couple’s privacy and her subsequent grief and shock following his death.
Resolution: The News Editor personally apologised to the complainant explained that he had been unaware of the complaints relating to the image as previously published in a number of national newspapers and gave an assurance that the photograph would not be used again. (Cl 5, 9)

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